Arts & Culture

Between July 11th and August 7th, we are asking you to take a second (today or once a day) and vote for the favorites in your community. All you had to do is choose your community, write in your nominations and submit. Yep, that easy. You’ll vote for these categories: Eat, Drink and Be Merry, It’s All About the Art and Entertainment, Shop ‘Til You Drop, Look and Feel Your Best, It Is Your Business and Pet Projects plus we might ask a little about you.

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A Stephanie Reilly art form is a bit like an onion. On the surface, one may see some collaged words and pictures. After a second look, one will likely notice the layer upon layer of acrylic paint, decorated with various artistic knickknacks. A third glance may reveal more hidden pleasures: messages lurking in the background, colors missed before, thematic connections previously unseen. Each look peels back a new layer, giving the viewer more material to enjoy and to interpret.

The Redmond resident began making these textured canvas statements three years ago. Before that, she experimented in many mediums, progressing through stained glass, children’s clothing and wire-wrapped jewelry. Reilly has discovered she has an eye and a hand for creating self-reflective art pieces and is pleased to present her second show at Pogacha restaurants.

The Longhouse Education and Cultural Center at The Evergreen State College will host its annual two-day holiday art fair December 10th and 11th at the Longhouse on campus. The hours of the fair are Friday, December 10th 11AM – 6PM and Saturday, December 11th 10AM- 5PM. Admission is free. Friday, parking costs $2.00.

The fair will feature over 30 Native artists selling original work in a wide variety of price ranges to appeal to every budget. Artists will be selling jewelry, clothing, textiles, weaving, carvings, games, prints, paintings, cards and more. Frybread and Indian tacos will be available for sale. On Friday, December 10, Lummi singer and songwriter Chenoa Egawa will perform at 2 PM.

I'm not sure why this is such a popular weekend for events, but Gig Harbor is experiencing another mother lode weekend of events and activities. Not to be too cliché, but there is seriously something for everyone in Gig Harbor coming up this weekend.

Wanna eat?

Brix 25 Restaurant presents a dinner with Mcrea Cellars and Salida Winery on Thursday October 14Th. Reservations required at harborbrix.com

Tides Tavern presents Dining with a Green Beret on Friday October 15Th. Buy a soldier lunch from 1:30-3:30pm.

Wanna watch?

The Gig Harbor Film Festival opens on Friday the 15th and runs through Sunday with a wide variety of films through out each day. See the entire list of films on our calendar of events at gigharborgudie.com

Encore! Theater opens its show "Captain Louie" on Friday the 15th. This is a family-friendly fun Halloween show sure to delight all ages. Runs through Halloween October 31st. encoretheater.org

Wanna learn?

The 10th Annual Gig Harbor Quilt Festival takes place October 16th & 17th with a variety of events and classes as well as the annual quilt auction to benefit breast cancer research. See all information and register at gigharborquiltfestival.org

The 4th Annual Donkey Creek Chum Festival, October 16th, once again brings the community together to celebrate the life of the salmon, through displays, arts, events and much more including kayak race and Chum Burger BBQ! gigharborguide.com

Stars & Stripes continues at the beautiful new Harbor History Museum. Enjoy this special engagement of this wonderful exhibit of a captivating collection of America's icon. harborhistorymuseum.org